Cherry Fisher May, publisher of Acadiana’s business magazine ABiz, sits in for Peter Ricchiuti on this edition of Out to Lunch.

Cherry admits she doesn’t have any NPR, Out to Lunch or ABiz research to back this up, but statistically she estimates per square inch there’s more great food in Acadiana than anywhere in the nation.

Because you live here – and maybe were even raised here, you know all about it. But, unless you’re friends or family, it’s unlikely you know about the food career of Jennifer Jackson.

Dr Jackson is CEO of Keystone Nutrition, a company she started in 2014. Jennifer’s food and nutrition clients include 8 parish jails. Jennifer also consults for the Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice, the Lafayette Juvenile Detention Home, WIC – a nutrition program for low income women – and Whole Foods. 

In the department of Specialty Food Careers, Bob Carriker has a special seat at the table. Known as “Dr. Boudin” – he is actually a Ph.d and professor of history – Bob is Acadiana’s boudin authority. He’s the author of the recently published book Boudin: A Guide to Louisiana’s Extraordinary Link, and creator of Acadiana’s biggest sensation of 2015, the Boudin King Cake. Bob, welcome to Out to Lunch.

Jennifer’s and Bob’s slice of the food business might be unusual or eccentric, but if you’re looking for something truly nutty, meet Jady Regard.

Jady is Chief Nut Officer at the Cane River Pecan Company. Jady took over the family business in 2002 and found a unique niche in the nut market: Corporate gifts. What says “Let’s make a deal” better than a customized tin of pecans with your company logo on it? Right? Apparently so. The B2B nut business is booming. 

For more information about Acadiana entrepreneurs – Innov8 Acadiana and The Opportunity Machine.

Photos at Cafe Vermilionville by Gwendolyn Aucoin.